When the Common Core State Standards emerged, it was both a shock and a revelation—for the first time, the dominant model said that my students, who live in low-income neighborhoods and are predominately Hispanic or African American, would have some guarantee of the same kinds of educational experiences that students at high-performing schools across the country have. All students would be asked to do the hard stuff—and reap the benefits of those high expectations.

To me, this is a fundamentally American value. So I’ve been equally surprised by the backlash against Common Core.